Improvement in post-hole diggers



H. K. NEEDHAM. Post-Hole Digger.

No. 220,251. Patented Oct. 7,1879..

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HIRAM K.' NEEDHAM, OF DENISON CITY, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT'HWIN POST-HOLE DIGGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 220.251, dated October' 7, 1879; application filed To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HiRAM K. NEEDHAM, of Denison City, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have inven ted certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Diggers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to post-hole diggers,

.andis designed toprovide a simple form of construction which will ettectually accomplish the end in view, the primary feature being to adapt the blade so that it may readily penetrate the ground wit-hout difficulty from obstacles such as is experienced in thc use of rotary diggers, or those which have a broad and square cutting-edge.

The invention consists in forming abladein single metallic piece and of circular triangular` form, having a bevel cutting-edge, the upper portion of the sides ot the blade overlapping each other, and thence separa-tin g as'they extend downward to constitute ag sin gle cutting-edge.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation ot' my digger. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, in i'nnerside elevation, ot' the blade. Fig. 3 is a view of the blade betere it`is.rolled into its circular form.

The blade A is made of a single metallic piece, which preferably is light plow-steel, and has a beveled cutting-edge, a. This metallic Apiece is rolled into the circular form shown, lwith the sides of the blade overlappin gone anoth er at their upper portions, b, and thence separating from each other as they extend down- May 3, 1879.

ward and outward to constitute the single entering-edge c. This construction permits the earth to be retained within the circular blade and held compressed therein as the digger is raised from out of the hole. This blade may be provided with any suitable shank, B, malleable or wrought iron being preferable, and to this may be secured a handle of desired character.

As the digger is inserted into the earth its peculiarly-shaped blade renders it very effective in loosening and removing the ground, and it is apparent, that any desired size of posthole may be made, inasmuch as the earth is rst loosened by repeated thrusts, and is then retained by compression within the circular blade until removed' from the hole, when a slight jar or shock will free the blade from all earth.'

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the blade, whose single metallic piece is rolled in triangular circular form, having its forward portion shorter than its rear portion, of the shank secured to the latter,the forward sides of said blade over lapping at their upper extremities, and thence extending diagonally downward and rearward in opposite directions to form the single rear entering-edge, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of April, 1879.

HIRAM K. NEEDHAM. 

